Fifteen

No Galleons are being made. I don't own the characters. Etcetera, etcetera...

Hermione frowned as she gazed at herself in the mirror. Why couldn't she have been one of those women who didn't have to put forth effort to be attractive? Come to that, she wasn't sure why it mattered. Snape had seen her at her worst, knew what she had to offer their union, and still wanted to go forward with their plans. Or did he? Maybe he'd changed his mind since the night before. Maybe he'd only agreed to dinner out of some attempt to be kind. Sucking in a deep breath, she unlatched the door and stepped out into the hallway.

"Well, here goes nothing," she said softly, disliking the twisted knots in her stomach. As soon as she rounded the corner, she saw him...tall, dark, and handsome...leaning against the wall casually. Her breath caught. It had always been an expression she'd heard, but she truly meant it. Tonight Snape looked handsome. He'd taken care with his hair and attire. Sans Wizarding robes, he was less intimidating. She smiled at the way the crisp, black fabric fit his frame perfectly, defining his shoulders. Strong. Safe. Snape.

"Hello, Miss Granger," he said politely.

"Hermione."

"Right." He gave a light smile and nodded towards the dining area. "I took the liberty of getting our table already after I saw you enter the loo." He offered his arm. "Shall we?"

"Yes... Severus."

This elicited a mixed reaction from him. For a moment, he seemed to stiffen, but then he relaxed and said nothing further as he guided her to his table. She wondered if he'd been thinking, as she had, about their relationship in the past...relationship being a terrible description. There was a lot to forgive, a lot to forget, and a lot of time to make things right. Hermione was willing. This was what she wanted, just a small chance to become a mother. If she couldn't bear his child, he wouldn't be devastated and would still accept her and their life. He wasn't expecting anything and even approved of her initial desire to lead a career-oriented life.

"You're shaking," he commented, pausing at their table to scrutinize her. "Are you quite all right?"

"I'm nervous!" she blurted. She resisted the urge to slap a hand to her face. Why had she admitted that?

"If you don't want to do this..." His voice had a slightly cool tone.

"I do want to." Hermione was certain she saw tension slowly release in his stance. "I just... I don't know. I can't explain it."

"Wine, I think," he said and pulled out a chair. "Please. Be seated."

Her bum had barely hit the chair before a wild-haired witch, strands of various colors that stuck out at all angles, appeared next to them with a small pop. "Wine, eh? Excellent. Excellent. Shall I bring the house best?" She flashed a toothy grin.

"That will do," Severus replied, arching an eyebrow. "And let that be the last time you use a charm to listen in to what we're saying."

"Oh, sir," she began, a light blush on her cheeks, "only do that in the first. Need to know when the patrons are ready, see?"

"You have been warned," he said firmly and took the seat across from Hermione.

"I wouldn't have thought about that," Hermione admitted.

"What's that?"

"Just how you realized she'd used a charm to hear us. My first thought was that she's an astute waitress."

"Years of practice." He waved away her compliment. "Second nature to always look for things that are out of place." Severus afforded her a tight smile. "I daresay your nervous state is hindering your ability at the moment."

Had he complimented her? She decided to take it as such. "I think so."

"Hermione, before we go any further, I need to know if you meant what you said about..."

Pop!

"Here you are! Made fresh by our best elves!" She placed a chilled bottle on the table, and with a snap of her fingers, two wineglasses appeared in front of them. "Take a look at these menus," which appeared on the table, "and I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Very well," Severus said with a slight nod. He began pouring wine for Hermione and then himself.

"You were saying?" Hermione asked, taking the proffered glass.

"Do you really want to do this?" His slender index finger moved back and forth between them. "Us. This marriage."

"Yes." She made sure to look him in the eye. Let him look into my mind if it will put him at ease. "I think this will work well. We've no false expectations, we know about each other's past actions, and we can give something we need to each other."

"A clean slate then. The past is in the past."

"If this is to work, then yes."

"Potter?"

"Still one of my best friends and part of my life."

He frowned. "He tries to be in mine at times."

"I know. In fact, I think..."

Severus held up a hand. "In my own time. If ever."

Hermione nodded. Panic set in and clawed at her mind. Again the random strands of doubt made an appearance. How could this work? Harry was an important part of her life. Although he wanted to befriend Snape, she was certain that he wouldn't approve of her decision. Their many conversations about her choices where Ron was concerned came to mind. God, what would Ron do? Life could never be as it was. Why couldn't things be simpler? What was she thinking...Snape, who'd hated her, who'd mistreated her and her friends! Snape who... She smiled slightly. Snape who'd bravely done what needed to be done to help Harry save the world; regardless of his delivery, he was a hero, just as much as Harry. Things would be different, but she could again find balance in her life. She'd see it done.

"You've just had an amazing display of emotions flit across your face."

There was a hidden question in his statement. She gave him what he sought. "To be honest, which I always expect of you as well, I thought about how much Harry has been an important part of my life... as well as Ron, how I don't really want that to end. Them being part of it." She bit her lip in thought as she went over how to word her feelings better. "I don't mean that they have to be round all the time, but I don't want to never have a chance to spend time with them again."

"Weasley will likely not want to come round anyway, Hermione. You do realize that, do you not?"

She nodded. "I suppose I'm hoping for that down the road when it's less hard for us both."

"I will not keep you from your friends." He leant forward and took a deep drink of his wine, eyes not leaving hers. Then his next words came out in the quiet, silken voice he used when he wanted to stress something important. "I expect you to do the same for me and be just as cordial with my friends."

Hermione sat back as if the wind leaving her body had pushed her against her chair. The Malfoys. She knew Lucius Malfoy was behind the initial owl, and that had surprised her, but after the turn events had taken, she'd not thought any more about the Malfoys. They were his friends. She wasn't sure how long it would take her to warm to them... if ever. Relief flooded her body with his next words.

"In your own time. If ever. My vow to you."

"Thank you." She lifted her glass of wine towards him and clinked it against his when he did the same. "To our beginning, though it may be slow and take adjusting, I think we're both mature and intelligent enough to make this work so long as we swear to always be honest."

"Indeed."

Dinner passed by so quickly for Hermione. She could hear her mother's voice: Good times always pass us by so swiftly we have to wonder if they truly happened at all.

"Severus?"

"Yes?"

Something in her voice caused him to straighten in his chair and gaze at her seriously. After the wonderful conversation they'd just had, how could he still doubt her intentions? And why did his insecurity put her at ease?

"My mum and dad have been in Australia..."

He nodded. "I know a little of the circumstance."

"We've not been as close as before. They've... not taken what I did as well as I'd have liked."

"They will understand in time, Hermione." He leant forward and placed a hand over hers for a brief moment. "Trust when I say that you made the correct choice. They were not safe."

To her embarrassment, tears welled in her eyes and threatened to spill over. To hear him, someone who'd been on the inside, admit that she'd done the right thing, that they might not have made it through had she not sent them off... She felt so validated. "I just wanted them to live. No matter the cost."

This time when his hand came to hers, it lingered and gave a light squeeze. "Sometimes we do what we must, though others might not understand our method."

Her tears spilled then. "Th-thank you."

The understanding that passed between them and the feeling it evoked was something she'd never felt before. Not even with Ron. For the first time in several weeks, she actually felt hopeful about her future. She wasn't sure if she could love Severus the way she loved Ron, but she knew, without a doubt, he could make her happy.

"Sorry," she said after a moment, regretfully taking her hand away to use the linen to wipe her cheeks. "What I mean to say is that I'd like to have them there when we marry. I don't expect anything lavish or any others to be there. Imagine the spectacle. The likes of Rita Skeeter and others like her would ruin things."

"A private affair suits me."

"My parents are coming home soon."

"We'll wait then."

"No," she said firmly. "I don't know when that will be. Mum says they have to get things in order first. I think we should be married sooner rather than later, yes?"

Severus gave a nod and flashed a small smile. "I am agreeable to that."

"Then we should do this, go to Australia. Once there, I'll explain everything to them."

"Everything?"

"I...well, maybe." What would her mum think about Severus? Would they understand? It might be better to pretend she and Ron had had a falling out, and she'd fallen madly in love with Severus on the rebound. That felt wrong though. Why should she be afraid? Why should she lie? Her parents had chosen to stay away, though she'd pleaded otherwise. If this kept them away longer or disappointed them, so be it. "Yes. All of it."

"Perhaps starting anew should be done with them knowing everything...even about us. They deserve that much. I would be willing to let them know what the Dark Lord had planned for them if that's what it takes to get them to understand."

"You're right. And it's not fair to them to lie about us. They know how long I cared for Ron before I sent them off and know how close we've been since. Honesty is best. If they don't understand my decision, I'll just have to live with whatever theirs might be."

"I agree." He gave her a reassuring smile. "I've never been to Australia. This should be interesting, I think. Perhaps we can take a few extra days to see a few sites... to get to know each other a little."

Hermione's stomach tingled. By getting to know each other, she couldn't help but imagine exploring each other for the first time. Was that what he meant? Would he want sex the same as any other man the night of his vows? And why shouldn't he? Was she ready? Would he give her time if she wasn't? She hoped the heat she felt in her face wasn't betraying her thoughts to him.

CRACK!. A portly man she'd seen at the door appeared at their table. "Begging your pardon, sir, but I've got something of great importance it seems." He leant closer, eyes wide. "From Lucius Malfoy!" He extended a letter with the Malfoy seal. "That eagle owl...bloody huge, that... wouldn't stop pecking at me until I agreed to give this to you straight away!"

Severus took the letter and said, "I thank you."

"Anything to help our heroes, sir." The man gave them both a broad grin and disappeared with a crack.

"Are you anticipating something alarming, Severus? You look disturbed."

"If it's urgent... I worry about Draco these days."

Hermione watched silently as he opened the letter. His face gave away nothing. She didn't like Draco, but she'd heard what the Ministry's new law had done to his future. Someone had said that he'd looked dreadful as of late. "What is it?" she asked when his eyes met hers. Instead of replying, he handed the parchment to her.

Severus,

Lucius

"In other words," Severus said blandly, "Lucius baited Weasley because he can, as is his way, and now he's trying to rectify his mistake."

Hermione expelled a long breath. Ron knew. It wouldn't be long before Harry, Ginny, and the others knew. This was her decision, and she would stick with it. Still, was he hurting? She hated to think so. Or to think she was the cause of his pain, yet again. Why had Ron reacted so strongly? Was it just because he'd been drinking? Did he want her back? She hated that Lucius Malfoy was the sort of man who didn't mind kicking someone already down. Blast him! How could she ever become friendly with people like that?

"Hermione?"

"Sorry, I...lots of thoughts."

Severus nodded. "Would you like to speak to him before we finalize any plans?"

She shook her head. "No. It's done. Not the way I'd wanted him to find out, but he knows regardless. I don't want to see him until after."

"In case he changes your mind?"

"Yes." It was an honest answer, but it was one he deserved.

"I appreciate the honesty. This is what it is, and I'm not above taking what I want." He leant back against his chair, arched an eyebrow, and asked, "When do you want to leave?"

"Tonight."

SW's Notes: So while waiting to get things back on track with my beta (I don't like posting without a second set of eyes, but I hate keeping people waiting...I'm sorry.), I decided to do some editing myself. Those edits were needed to make the story a little better where it was lacking. Therefore, three new chapters have been inserted. Sorry it took long to get them done (lots of graduate work that I get have on my plate...who knew?). Anyway, I expect to have these up within a week of each other again as planned now that it's fixed up where I like it and where I'm ahead of myself again.

Please forgive any errors you see; I did try to find them, but you know how that goes. I'll correct them as soon as I get my second pair of eyes. Peace.